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Wickens takes double win

In 2009 the historic FIA Formula Two Championship returns to circuits for the first time in twenty-five years. The original Formula Two provided some of the greatest drivers of a generation with former champions including Jacky Ickx, Clay Regazzoni, Ronnie Peterson, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Patrick Depailler, Jacques Laffite and René Arnoux, drivers who went on to win Formula One Grand Prix in the 1970's and 1980's.

The first race in twenty-five years was held in Valencia, Spain. Not the street circuit that held a Formula One race last year, but the permanent facility more famous for motorcycle racing.

The first driver to top a Formula Two race weekend timesheet was Andy Soucek, the former GP2 racer. He lapped the track 0.374 seconds faster than Tobias Hegewald who joins Formula Two after spending 2008 in Formula Renault across Europe. Third place went to Robert Wickens, who in 2008 raced in A1GP, World Series by Renault and Euroseries Formula 3 and appeared on UpdateF1's Stars of Tomorrow.

Continuing Friday's action was the second official practice session, with Eduardo Piscopo setting the fastest time. The Italian Formula 3 racer and A1GP driver was 0.276 faster than 2007 Formula BMW World Final Winner, Phillipp Eng. Third place went to another former GP2 driver, Carlos Iaconelli.

Friday finishes with the qualifying section for the first race, and the first pole sitter on the new series is Robert Wickens. He was just 0.014 seconds quicker than Hegewald who as the surprise of the session joins Wickens on the front row, behind Soucek and Iaconelli line up on the second row

Saturday opens with the qualifying session for the second race. Wickens again set the fastest time to take pole position, this time he is joined on the front row by Soucek. The second row is an all-Italian affair with Italian Formula 3 Champion, and Ferrari tester Mirko Bortolotti third and Spanish Formula 3 championship contender Nicola De Marco lining up fourth.

Saturday closes with the first, and longest, of two races, and in Valencia it was Wickens who made history and became the first driver to win a Formula Two race for twenty five years.

Wickens get a great start from pole and watched his rivals disappear instantly as Hegewald bogged down from the other side of the front row and dropped behind Soucek and Carlos Iaconelli into fourth place.

Wickens was never challenged during the race, Soucek ran him close for the opening few laps but then dropped back to conserve his tyres, as the are no pit stops in Formula Two.

On lap fourteen Soucek was still in second ahead of Iaconelli and Hegewald, when the Spanish driver slowed dramatically. Iaconelli avoided him and took second place but Hegewald was unsighted and ploughed right into the back of Soucek's car.

The safety car was brought out to clear the debris.

While under safety car conditions De Marco passed former Formula Palmer Audi driver Jack Clarke narrowly avoiding all objects as he slalomed his way left passed Hegewald's car and the crane removing Soucek's car. He soon let Clarke past and overtook him yet again as soon as racing resumed.

When racing resumed Wickens had to re-open his lead, which he did at ease.

Behind Iaconelli was comfortable in second ahead of Kazim Vasiliauskas in third. Vasiliauskas was under pressure from World Series by Renault drivers Mikhail Aleshin and Julian Jousse. Jousse made a move on Aleshin but it backfired as he lost his fifth place to Eng

Eng looked set for fifth place until he spun on the last lap and dropped down to twelfth and out of the points. This promoted Jousse back into fifth, Bortolotti sixth, Henry Surtees seventh and Alex Brundle eighth.

With points following the FIA standard scoring system, with only the top eight scoring the final two points paying positions were taken by sons of former Formula One drivers, John and Martin respectively, after both had made the jump for Formula Palmer Audi.

The second race, shorter by just seven laps, was held on Sunday afternoon, and the grid was formed as a result of the separate Saturday morning qualifying session.

Saturday or Sunday, it makes no difference to Wickens as he took his second win in as many days to open up a huge lead in the championship standings.

Wickens got another good start from pole, while second placed man, this time Soucek again got bogged down at the start.

With Soucek getting away slowly Wickens got off into an early lead with his 'team-mate' Bortolotti slotting into second place behind him.

Lie Soucek the previous day, Bortolotti was putting pressure on Wickens but my mid race both drivers had settled into their positions and finished in formation.

At the start of the race there was a disaster for the series only female driver Natacha Gachnang, who is the cousin of Toro Rosso Formula One driver Sebastien Buemi. She made contact with Brundle and was out. Brundle made it back to the pits for repairs and was over a lap behind, so used the race as a extra testing session.

There was also disappointment for Vasiliauskas, who after his podium on Saturday was looking for more points, however he spun out attempting to pass Jousse for eighth place and eventually finished down in twentieth place.

Behind Eng started well and got into third jumping Soucek, however Soucek was all over the back of him for the entire race, but held him off the claim a podium to make up for the disappointment of Saturdays spin.

De Marco also jumped Soucek at the start but once the Spaniard got up to speed he was able to re-pass De Marco, nevertheless De Marco had a much improved performance over Saturday and was able to keep hold of fifth position for Aleshin who made it all three Red Bull backed drivers in the top six.

Edoardo Piscopo finished seventh with Iaconelli rounding out the point's finishers.

After his double win Wickens had the maximum twenty points out of twenty and leads fellow Red Bull driver Bortolotti who is second with eleven points. Iaconelli is third with nine and Aleshin, the third Red Bull driver is fourth with eight. After only two races twelve drivers have already scored points suggesting that it is going to be a very close season.

Written: Sun, 31 May 2009 16:47:07